BROWNSVILLE, Texas -- As legislation begins moving through the Texas legislature to remove legal hurdles to commercial space launches in the state, a SpaceX executive has told lawmakers that Texas is the leading contender for a new SpaceX launch site. The other contenders are Georgia, Florida and Puerto Rico.

"We have progressed the furthest in our conversations with the state of Texas as Elon (Musk) testified; it is the leader at this point" compared to the other locations, Caryn Schenewerk, counsel and director of government affairs for SpaceX, told a Texas House committee March 14. A report on her testimony and legislation now being considered by lawmakers was published in on the Brownsville Herald's website.

According to Herald report, SpaceX is considering a site about three miles north of Mexico and five miles south of South Padre Island. Lawmakers are considering bills to ease the legal liabilities of space companies in the event of accidents. SpaceX has long-term plans to launch astronauts, satellites and supply missions to the International Space Station that require it to continue renting launch facilities at Cape Canaveral or build an alternative launch pad. It is also using launch facilities in California.